A thread to discuss My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and the tie-in media.
All of the usual forum rules
apply. In addition, please remember that the thread is discussing a kids' show, and it's primarily focused on the work itself, not the fanfic — in particular, we don't want to see lewdness creeping in.
Edited by Mrph1 on Aug 26th 2024 at 10:24:26 AM
Okay, I'm just going to ask this: does anyone feel the show would be better without Spike in it?
I ask this not because I dislike the character, but because it seems like the writers simply have no clue what to do with him most of the time. The show's clearly centered around the Mane 6 and their friendship, and since Spike throws off that dynamic, he's usually not part of many episodes, which has the side effect of making it look like everyone else is ignoring him. When he is part of the group he's usually made to serve as comic relief. Both these roles just end up making him look like The Woobie and the Mane 6 seem unlikeable.
Spike either doesn't serve a purpose at all, serves a purpose that tends to rub viewers the wrong way, or serves as a simple plot device that could be replaced by a more minor character. He just seems superfluous.
edited 4th Feb '14 11:04:12 PM by Robotnik
Even if the title is real, that doesn't necessarily mean anypony will die.
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play@Wryte: Well, if you live near Portland and are decent with computers, we're hiring.
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I wouldn't want him gone from the show, but you're right that the writers often seem unsure of what to do with him. He's just sort of absent for no real reason whenever he isn't needed. I would like to see him better utilized.
edited 4th Feb '14 11:04:11 PM by Crowfall
He has occasionally be used as a foil such as in Lesson Zero and It's About Time.
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayDeath Comes to Ponyville refers to a dark and dimly-remembered prophecy whispered among half-forgotten cults that speaks of the time when the Grey One shall make her presence known, and shall spake thrice a doom of which only the darkest priests of Nepthu may guess. And thereupon the Grey One will call upon the greater demons of the 17 outer planes and command them as a master will to it's hound, wielding powers both mighty and terrible as her own, thus ascending to the Fifth Circle of the Astral Plane, whereupon she shall cast aside her mortal flesh as a man may discard his robes, gaining new flesh and new powers, and all who gaze upon her unnatural beauty will cry out in unattainable vistas of bliss and horror. And thus transformed, that which had once been the Grey One shall pursue her goal of devouring the circular wrapped pastries uncountable in number which had tormented her soul with hellish cravings, and once sated, the prophecy reveals no more.
edited 4th Feb '14 11:13:05 PM by darkabomination
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I'm not sure that's enough to justify his presence on its own. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any episode that wasn't focused on him that required his presence for the plot to still work.
I wonder if the writers didn't shoot themselves in the foot by making him a character that was inextricably bound to Twilight and thus part of the show's key cast by default.
edited 4th Feb '14 11:12:44 PM by Robotnik
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It did. But I can't help but think one of the reasons Spike played such a pivotal role in that episode was because the writers realized they were giving him the shaft and wanted to make the point that he was needed. I think the episode could've worked just as well if it had something to do with Twilight or one of the other Mane 6.
edited 4th Feb '14 11:30:29 PM by Robotnik
The things that Bon Bon has to put up with...
You know, I don't get how people can complain that Flash has no flaws when he dated Sunset Shimmer.
He's clearly naïve and overly trusting. Which is a huge flaw in a guard.
Also, being a Flash Light shipper didn't stop me from being a Twi Mac shipper.
I don't. So don't antagonize me.
Yeah, that definitely doesn't sound like you want to have an issue...
I see your point, at least a bit. Spike does seem frequently superfluous, which is part of the reason I don't count him as part of the main cast - I think of him on the same level as the CMC, a sort of side story we occasionally see, but not really 'main' per se. OR, more frequently, akin to the Cakes - a major part of one of the character's lives, and therefore frequent, but still not main.
Basically what I mean is I see your point, but I think it would be more valid if he was actually a more frequent cast member. If they used the same approach to him then, he would feel kinda shoehorned in, but as it stands he isn't really.
Going by the nebulous and vague "Lauren's Plan", he was probably intended as a foil/sidekick. He interacts very well with Twilight, and seeing him in her focus episodes is really about the only time I enjoy him as opposed to being neutral to his presence, and for those alone I wouldn't want to see him gone.
edited 5th Feb '14 4:34:37 AM by kegisak
Birthright: an original web novel about Dragons, the Burdens of Leadership, and Mangoes.Well, you've suggested it but I wouldn't say one sample necessarily proves it.For all we know Shimmer actually could have been nice to him. Or he could have been a dick too, but changed his ways. OR he could have ignored it because she was hot, until things got too crazy for him. Hell, he could have made her like him and then dumped her just to prove to her she can't lie and cheat her way to everything.
In any event, whether or not he has a personality is irrelevant if that personality has no impact on the audience. I liked Flash, but I more than understand not thinking of him as having much weight or being at all interesting. He just didn't have enough to do to have any real weight.
Birthright: an original web novel about Dragons, the Burdens of Leadership, and Mangoes.

@ "Death Comes to Ponyville": I hope this one isn't real. If it is, who would they kill? Granny Smith? Nah. She's gonna outlive them all. Even the princesses.
I put my friend in a coconut! He lives in my hat! Hey, come hang out!